Tile cutter



Nov. 26, 1963 M. GREEN TILE CUTTER Filed oct. 15, 1962 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent O 3,111,366 TILE CUTTER Max L. Green, Pasadena,Caii., assigner to Reiten Corporation, Pasadena, Calif., a corporationof Caiiiornia Filed Oct. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 230,652 Claims. (Cl. 77-69)This invention relates to a device for cutting from floor coverings,such as linoleum or asphalt tile, plugs that can be replaced with aminimum of evidence that the floor has been cut.

in treating a structure chemically to exterminate and protect againstsuch pests as termites, it is frequently necessary to drill through thefloor of the structure so that chemicals can ybe injected into the areato be treated. If the wooden or concrete floor has a covering, such aslinoleum or asphalt tile, the pest control operator must either remove aportion of the covering prior to actual drilling of the floor or drillthrough :such covering as well as the floor. Conventionally, whenremoval of covering is the course followed, the pest control operatoruses a chisel, or other sharp tool, to chip out a piece of the iloorcovering. The covering is nearly always cemented to the floor, and thechipping process generally results in not only an irregularly shapedhole in the covering but in fragmentation of the covering .sectionremoved. Thus, when the treating job is iinished, the operator must (1)either leave the covering with an unsightly hole, (2) attempt to iillthe hole with the assembled fragments of the removed but broken section,or (3) if the covering is comprised of squares of tile, attempt toreplace with a new square or squares the entire square or squares oftile damaged by removal of the destroyed section. As noted, alternative(l) leaves an unsightly hole in the covering; alternative (2) istime-consuming and results in a very visible patch in the covering; notonly is alternative (3) expensive because it is time-consuming to try tofind a pattern in new tile that matches tile that twas purchased sometime previously, but new tile of the same basic pattern often appears tobe a conspicuous mis-match with the old tile because of wear which marksthe old squares very distinguishably from adjacent new sqnares.

It is evident that if the operator chooses to drill through thecovering, rather than try to remove a replaceable piece, he will destroythe covering drilled through and be faced with the unsatisfactoryalternatives described above :as (l) and (3).

The primary object of my invention is to enable the pest controloperator to cut in a floor covering, such as linoleum or asphalt tile, aplug which can Ibe removed easily without damage from the precise spotdesired and can be replaced easily so that only a hairline crack isvisible, thus helping to ensure customer satisfaction with theappearance of the nished job without prohibitive time expenditure by thepest control operator. A secondary object of my invention is to prevent,by the coordination of relevant measurements of the parts of theinvention, the tool used to cut the floor covering from encountering theunderlying floor in such -a way as to dull or chip the cutting edge ofthe tool.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdescription thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of the oor covering cutter;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of the floor covering cutter;

FIGURE 3 is an elevation, partly in section, of the pilot plate;

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the pilot plate; and

`FGURE 5 is a top view of the floor covering cutter from the shank end.

3,1 l 1,866 Patented Nov. 26, 1963 ICC FIGURE 1 illustrates the tloorcovering cutter compr-ised of the cutter head portion 1 and shankpor-tion 2. The shank is inserted into the chuck of the ordinaryelect-ric or air drill; the pest control operator then presses thecutter head edge 3 of the cutting head against the selected spot in thedoor tile covering and, while continuing to apply pressure, rotates thecutter by operating the drill motor. The cutter quickly penetrates thefloor covering, cutting a fine line around the plug; lthe operator thenheats the plug with a blow torch or other suitable means to soften themastic holding it to the underlying floor and the plug can then beremoved and ultimately replaced.

However, unless a timely stopping of the penetrating forward movement isaccomplished, the cutter edge will generally strike the iloor underlyingthe covering and will be quickly dulled or permanently damaged.Therefore, imy invention comprises also the pilot plate illustrated inFIGURE 3. The pilot plate is provided with pilot holes 7, 8, 9, 10 and11 which serve a dual purpose. First, because the internal diameter 12of each hole is just slightly greater than the outside diameter of thecutting edge 3, the cutting edge can be inserted into the selected pilothole which has been placed over the spot chosen for the hole to bedrilled; then, while the operator holds the pilot plate rmly in placewith his foot, the cutting head can be rotated freely in the guidingpilot hole and made to cut the floor covering at the precise spotdesired. It will be noted that the cutter head is provided with ashoulder 5 at the transitional point between the cutter head edge andthe cutter head body 4, and that, while the diameter of the cuter headedge is such that it can easily be inserted into the smallest diameterportion 12 of the pilot holes, the cutter head body is of such greaterdiameter that it will enter only the counterbored portion 13` of thepilot holes. Thus, penetration of the cutter head through the pilotholes is abruptly stopped when the shoulder of the cutter head lbodyencounters the transitional shoulder 14 of FIGURE 3 between thecounterbored and noncounterbored portions of the pilot holes orencounters the pilot plate itself when the pilot hole has not beencounterbored 11.

The cutter head edge is longer than the pilot plate is thick, and willtherefore prot-rude :from even a noncountenbored hole if `it is pushedthrough until the shoulder of the cutter head body contacts the pilotplate; but it is obvious that minimum depth of penetration will beobtained by using the non-countenbored hole and maxirmum depth ofpenetration will 4be obtained when the hole that has been counterboredto the greatest depth is used. My invention rel-ates the precise lengthof the cutter head edge to the thickness of the pilot plate and to thedepth of counterboring of the various holes so that by choosing theproper pilot hole the operator can obtain a depth of cutter head edgepenetration that will enable him to cut lthrou-gh thespecifically-dimensioned floor covering with which he is dealing withoutdamaging contact with the underlying iloor.

Each cutter head pilot hole is identiiied 18 with a number; the numberscorrespond to those shown on an instruction sheet as identifying aspecific thickness of floor covering. Thus, knowing the coveringthickness, the operator selects the number opposite that thickness onthe instruction list and then chooses the pilot plate hole which isidentified by 'that number.

FIGURES l and 5 show a small hole 6 leading from the back of the cutterhead into the cored body 20 of the cutter head. When, as occassionallyoccurs, the iioor covering plug lodges in the cutter-head core-bodyopening, a nail or similar object of suitable dimension can be insertedfrom the back of the cutter head through the hole 6 to push the plug outof the core-body opening.

annees After considerable cutting use, the cutter head edge will bedulled. Attached to the pilo-t plate, as shown in FIGURE 3, is asharpening` stone 15. To sharpen the cutter head edge, the operator mustmerely place the cutter head edge over the sharpening stone yand applyvery gentle downward pressure as he rotates the drill motor chuck Ewhichholds the cutter shank. As repeated Sharpenings will reduce the lengthof the cutter head edge, the operator must compensate for suchshortening by selecting pilot plate holes with increasingly greaterdepth of counterbore.

Also shown in FIGURE 3 are drill pilot holes 16 and |17 provided for theconvenience of the operator. Certain popular types of masonry drillstend to pivot on their cutters when they are being stanted, and in doingso they walk away from the desired drilling spot. The operator placesthe drill pilot holes over the desired drilling spot yand inserts themasonry drill through the properly dimensioned hole while he stands onthe pilot plate to hold it firmly in space to guide the drill as hestarts it into the concrete at the selected spot.

I claim:

1. A device for cutting replaceable plugs in oor coverings, said deviceconsisting of a cutter and a pilot plate; the cutter is comprised of ashank end to be held in a rotating device, joined to a round head end,the leading edge of which is sufficiently sharp to penetrate ordinarydoor coverings such as linoleum or asphalt tile when the cutter isrotated and pressed against the oor covering and the body of which isprovided with a shoulder at the transition point between the lesserdiameter of the cutting edge portion of the cutter head and the greaterdiameter of the remainder of the cutter head and with a hole leadingfrom some point on the cutter head back of the cutting edge into thehollow center of the cutter head so that an implement can be insertedthrough such hole and into the hollow head to dislodge such floorcovering plugs as may lodge there after they have been cut; the pilotplate is comprised of a plate of steel or other suitablyabrasionresistant and rigid material, in which holes have been formed ofsuch minimum diameter that they contine the inserted cutter edge duringits rotation and fix its cutting location as the cutter operator holdsthe plate in selected place, said holes also being of such overall depthand counterbored depth and diameter that the hole properly selected incontemplation of the oor covering thickness will operate in conjunctionWith the shoulder of the cutter head to stop the forward movement of thecutter edge after it has completely cut through the floor covering butbefore it has made damaging contact with the underlying door.

2. A device for cutting replaceable plugs in oor coverings, said deviceconsisting of a cutter and a pilot plate; the cutter is comprised of ashank end to be held in a rotating device, joined to a round head end,the leading edge of which is sufliciently sharp to penetrate ordinaryoor coverings such as linoleum or asphalt tile when the cutter isrotated and pressed against the floor covering and the body of which isprovided with a shoulder at the transition point between the lesserdiameter of the cutting edge portion of the cutter head and the greaterdiameter of the remainder of the cutter head and with a hole leadingfrom some point on the cutter head back of the cutting edge into thehollow center of the cutter head so that an implement can be insertedthrough such hole and into the hollow head to dislodge such floorcovering plugs as may lodge there after they have been cut; the pilotplate is comprised of a plate of steel or other suitablyabrasionresistant and rigid material, in which holes have been formed ofsuch minimum diameter that they conne the inserted cutter edge duringits rotation and fix its cutting location as the cutter operator holdsthe plate in selected place, said holes also being of such overall depthand counterbored depth and diameter that the hole properly selected incontemplation of the floor covering thickness will operate inconjunction with the shoulder of the cutter head to stop the forwardmovement of the cutter edge after it has completely cut through the oorcovering but before it has made damaging contact with 4the underlyingfloor; in addition to the pilot holes for the guidance and stoppage ofthe plug cutter the pilot plate is provided with a cutter-edgesharpening stone against which the cutter edge can be gently pressedwhile being rotated to provide a sharpening result, said stone beingaffixed to the pilot plate by means of a threaded shank.

3. A device for cutting replaceable plugs in floor coverings, saiddevice consisting of a cutter and a pilot plate; the cutter is comprisedof a shank end to be held in a rotating device, joined to a round headend, the leading edge of which is suiciently sharp to penetrate ordinaryoor coverings such as linoleum or asphalt tile when the cutter isrotated and pressed against the floor coverings and the body of which isprovided with a shoulder at the transition point between the lesserdiameter of the cutting edge portion of the cutter head and the greaterdiameter of the remainder of the cutter head and with a hole leadingfrom some point on the cutter head back of the cutting edge into thehollow center of the cutter head so that an implement can be insertedthrough such hole and into the hollow head to dislodge such floorcovering plugs as may lodge there after they have been cut; the pilotplate is comprised of a plate of steel or other suitablyabrasionresistant and rigid material, in which holes have been formed ofsuch minimum diameter that they contine the inserted cutter edge duringits rotation and tix its cutting location as the cutter operator holdsthe plate in selected place, said holes also being of such overall depthand counterbored depth and diameter that the hole properly selected incontemplation of the oor covering thickness will operate in conjunctionwith the shoulder of the cutter head to stop the forward movement of thecutter edge `after it has completely cut through the floor covering butbefore it has made damaging contact with the underlying floor; inaddition to the pilot holes for the guidance and stoppage of the plugcutter the pilot plate is provided with a cutter-edge sharpening stoneagainst which the cutter edge can be gently pressed while being rotatedto provide a sharpening result, said stone being affixed to the pilotplate by means of a short shank portion brazed to the pilot plate.

4. A device for cutting replaceable plugs in floor coverings, saiddevice `consisting of a cutter and a pilot plate; the cutter iscomprised of a shank end to be held in a rotating device, joined to around head end, the leading edge of which Vis sufficiently sharp topenetrate ordinary oor coverings such `as linoleum or asphalt title whenthe cutter is rotated and pressed against the floor covering and thebody of which is provided with a shoulder at the transition pointbetween the lesser diameter of the cutting edge portion of the cutterhead and the greater diameter of the remain-der of the cutter head andwith a hole leading from some point on the cutter head back of thecutting edge into the hollow center of the cutter head so .that animplement can be inserted through such hole and into the hollow head todislodge -such oor covering plugs as :may lodge there after they have'been out; the pilot plate is comprised of a plate of steel or othersuitably abrasion-resistant and rigid material, in which holes have beenformed of such minimum diameter that they confine the inserted cutteredge during its rotation and tix its cutting location as the cutteroperator holds the plate in selected place, said holes also being ofsuch overall depth and counterbored depth and diameter that the holeproper- `ly selected in contemplation of the oor covering thickness willoperate in conjunction with the shoulder of the cutter head to stop theforward movement of the cutter edge after it has completely cut throughthe floor covering but before it has made damaging contact with theunderlying oor; in addition to the pilot holes for the guidance andstoppage of the plug cutter the pilot plate is provided with acutter-edge sharpening stone against which the cutter edge can be gentlypressed while being rotated to provide a sharpening result, said stonebeing atiixed to the pilot plate -by means of a threaded shank; thepilot plate is further provided with at least one hole to serve as apilot hole for starting and temporarily guiding a masonry drill which isused lfor drilling through the underlying oor when said door is ofmasonry construction.

5. A device for cutting replaceable plugs in `floor coverings, saiddevice consisting of a cutter and -a pilot plate; the cutter iscomprised of a shank end to be held in a rotating device, joined -to around head end, the leading edge of which is suiciently sharp topenetrate ordinary oor coverings such as linoleum or asphalt tile whenthe cutter is rotated and pressed against the oor covering and the bodyof which is provided with a shoulder a-t the transition point betweenthe lesser diameter of the cutting edge portion of the cutter head andthe greater diameter of the remain-der of the cutter head and with ahole leading from some point on the cutter head back of the cutting edgeinto the hollow center of the lcutter head so Ithat an implement can beinserted through such hole and into the hollow head to dislodge suchdoor covering plugs as may lodge there after they have been cut; thepilot plate is comprised of a. plate of `steel or other suitablyabrasion-resistant and rigid material, in which holes have been formedof such minimum diameter that Ithey confine the inserted cutter edgeduring its rotation and fix its cutting location as the cutter operatorholds the plate in selected place, said holes also being of such overall'depth and connterbored depth and diameter that the hole properlyselected in contemplation of the floor covering thickness will operatein conjunction with theshoulder of the cutter head to stop the lforwardmovement of the cutter edge after it has completely cut through the`iloor covering but before it has made damaging contact with theunderlying floor; in addition to the pilot holes for the guidance andstoppage of the plug cutter the pilot plate is provided with acutter-edge sharpening stone against which the cutter edge can be gentlypressed while being` rotated to provide a shanpening result, said stonebeing aixed to the pilot plate by means of a short shank portion brazedto the pilot plate; the pilot plate is further provided with at leastone hole to serve as a pilot hole for starting and temporarily guiding amasonry drill which is used for drilling through the underlying oor\when said floor is of masonry construction.

No references cited.

1. A DEVICE FOR CUTTING REPLACEABLE PLUGS IN FLOOR COVERINGS, SAIDDEVICE CONSISTING OF A CUTTER AND A PILOT PLATE; THE CUTTER IS COMPRISEDOF A SHANK END TO BE HELD IN A ROTATING DEVICE, JOINED TO A ROUND HEADEND, THE LEADING EDGE OF WHICH IS SUFFICIENTLY SHARP TO PENETRATEORDINARY FLOOR COVERINGS SUCH AS LINOLEUM OR ASPHALT TILE WHEN THECUTTER IS ROTATED AND PRESSED AGAINST THE FLOOR COVERING AND THE BODY OFWHICH IS PROVIDED WITH A SHOULDER AT THE TRANSITION POINT BETWEEN THELESSER DIAMETER OF THE CUTTING EDGE PORTION OF THE CUTTER HEAD AND THEGREATER DIAMETER OF THE REMAINDER OF THE CUTTER HEAD AND WITH A HOLELEADING FROM SOME POINT ON THE CUTTER HEAD BACK OF THE CUTTING EDGE INTOTHE HOLLOW CENTER OF THE CUTTER HEAD SO THAT AN IMPLEMENT CAN BEINSERTED THROUGH SUCH HOLE AND INTO THE HOLLOW HEAD TO DISLODGE SUCHFLOOR COVERING PLUGS AS MAY LODGE THERE AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN CUT; THEPILOT PLATE IS COMPRISED OF A PLATE OF STEEL OR OTHER SUITABLYABRASIONRESISTANT AND RIGID MATERIAL, IN WHICH HOLES HAVE BEEN FORMED OFSUCH MINIMUM DIAMETER THAT THEY CONFINE THE INSERTED CUTTER EDGE DURINGITS ROTATION AND FIX ITS CUTTING LOCATION AS THE CUTTER OPERATOR HOLDSTHE PLATE IN SELECTED PLACE, SAID HOLES ALSO BEING OF SUCH OVERALL DEPTHAND COUNTERBORED DEPTH AND DIAMETER THAT THE HOLE PROPERLY SELECTED INCONTEMPLATION OF THE FLOOR COVERING THICKNESS WILL OPERATE INCONJUNCTION WITH THE SHOULDER OF THE CUTTER HEAD TO STOP THE FORWARDMOVEMENT OF THE CUTTER EDGE AFTER IT HAS COMPLETELY CUT THROUGH THEFLOOR COVERING BUT BEFORE IT HAS MADE DAMAGING CONTACT WITH THEUNDERLYING FLOOR.